Evidence of Intent

= Jewish Involvement in Advancing Immigration Policy in the West =

This page provides an exhaustive exploration of the extensive role that Jewish individuals, communities, and organizations have played in shaping and advancing immigration policy in Western countries, with particular emphasis on the United States. Through centuries of {{tooltip label="Diaspora" event="click" style="width: 320px; text-align: left;"}}The scattering of the Jewish people across different geographical areas after various historical deportations and expulsions[[Diaspora>>https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/diaspora]]{{/tooltip}} experience, collective memory of persecution and migration has informed Jewish contributions to civil rights, humanitarian causes, and the development of more inclusive immigration systems. {{footnote}}Samuel C. Heilman, "Consensus and Conflict: The Application of Jewish Civil Rights Strategy to Immigration Reform Politics," Archives de Sciences Sociales des Religions 91, 1990{{/footnote}}

== Introduction ==

The historical trajectory of Jewish communities across Europe, the Middle East, and eventually the Americas has been indelibly marked by forced migration, exile, and relentless efforts to find sanctuary. From the Babylonian exile in 586 BCE to medieval {{tooltip label="expulsions" event="click" style="width: 320px; text-align: left;"}}The forced removal of Jewish populations from various countries, notably England in 1290, France in 1306, Spain in 1492[[Jewish Expulsions>>https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jewish-expulsions]]{{/tooltip}} from England, France, and Spain, Jewish history has been characterized by displacement and diaspora. These experiences have forged a deep-seated commitment to humanitarian principles and international norms governing the treatment of refugees and immigrants. This commitment has manifested through Jewish participation in political advocacy, organizational leadership, and public discourse that has pushed Western societies toward more compassionate and equitable immigration frameworks.

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Beginning with the colonial period and extending through modern legislative reforms, Jewish voices have been instrumental in challenging restrictive immigration policies and promoting family reunification, refugee resettlement, and pathways to citizenship. While Jewish contributions have been overwhelmingly focused on humanitarian imperatives, they have also intersected with broader civil rights movements, advocating for the rights of marginalized groups regardless of their origins. Jewish organizations have historically been involved in supporting immigration from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including African Americans facing discrimination and Southern European immigrants subject to prejudicial legislation.

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The interplay between historical memory and contemporary policy advocacy creates a unique dynamic where personal and communal experiences inform public policy recommendations. This position has not been without controversy, as Jewish advocacy for open immigration policies has sometimes been misrepresented or misunderstood within broader cultural and political debates. Critics have occasionally accused Jewish groups of promoting policies that benefit immigrants while being perceived to maintain restrictive policies regarding immigration to Israel. {{footnote}}Norman Finkelstein, "The Holocaust Industry: Reflections on the Exploitation of Jewish Suffering" 2000{{/footnote}}

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== Historical Context ==

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=== Early Jewish Immigration to North America ===

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The establishment of Jewish presence in the Americas predates the mainstream waves of European immigration in significant ways. During the colonial period, Sephardic Jews, many of whom had fled the Spanish Inquisition in the late 15th century, established communities first in the Caribbean and Brazil before moving northward into North American territories under Dutch and English rule. By the early 18th century, organized Jewish congregations existed in cities such as New York, Charleston, and Philadelphia, forming the nucleus of what would become a vibrant American Jewish community. The first professional Jewish settlers in North America were merchants and diplomats such as Joachim Gans, a metallurgist who arrived with Sir Walter Raleigh's 1585 expedition. {{footnote}}Malcolm H. Stern, "Americans of Jewish Descent" 1960{{/footnote}}

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These early settlers faced varying degrees of religious tolerance and legal discrimination, depending on the colonial powers governing their localities. Despite these challenges, they established patterns of communal self-help and mutual assistance that would later inform the development of more formal humanitarian organizations. In colonial New York, Jewish merchants formed successful trading networks that facilitated commerce and established economic alliances with Protestant merchants. The experience of navigating religious and cultural pluralism in colonial societies also created early Jewish advocates for religious freedom and tolerance, principles that would later extend to broader immigration debates. Jewish community leaders petitioned colonial governors for the right to establish businesses and participate in civil life, setting precedents for immigrant rights that would influence later immigration policy debates. {{footnote}}Leonard Kayser, "The Jewish Communities of New York, 1654-1860" 1887{{/footnote}}956-boeuf-carre des fonds

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=== The Great Eastern European Migration ===

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The period from approximately 1880 to 1924 witnessed one of the largest demographic transformations in Jewish history, as approximately 2.5 million Eastern European Jews migrated to the United States alone. This mass movement was precipitated by devastating pogroms in the Russian Empire, economic hardship, and increasingly restrictive policies that limited Jewish settlement and economic participation in their countries of origin. {{footnote}}United States Holocaust Memorial Museum data on Eastern European Jewish emigration{{/footnote}}

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These immigrants did not arrive as unorganized masses but often through established networks of assistance and advocacy that had been developing since the colonial period. The arrival of such large numbers of Eastern European Jews challenged existing social structures and prompted significant public debate about immigration, assimilation, and national identity. While many native-born Americans viewed these newcomers with suspicion, they were embraced by established Jewish communities who provided crucial support in the form of housing, employment assistance, and cultural orientation.

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This period also marked the beginning of more structured approaches to immigrant aid, laying the groundwork for professional social service organizations that would later evolve into major refugee resettlement agencies.

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=== The Holocaust and Post-World War II Refugee Crisis ===

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The systematic murder of six million Jews during the Holocaust (1933-1945) represented the culmination of centuries of European antisemitism and created a refugee catastrophe of unprecedented scale. The inability of many Western governments, including the United States, to provide refuge for Jews fleeing Nazi persecution remains one of the great moral failings of the pre-World War II era. The {{tooltip label="Joint American Jewish Distribution Committee" event="click" style="width: 320px; text-align: left;"}}JDC's efforts during and after World War II to provide aid to European Jews, including food, medical supplies, and escape routes[[JDC>>https://www.jdc.org/impact-history]]{{/tooltip}} documented thousands of cases where visa applications were denied or delayed due to technicalities and restrictive quotas. {{footnote}}David Wyman, "The Abandonment of the Jews: America and the Holocaust, 1941-1945" 1984{{/footnote}}

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In the aftermath of the war, American Jewish leaders and organizations were at the forefront of efforts to pressure governments into accepting displaced persons and Holocaust survivors. Organizations like the World Jewish Congress and Jewish Labor Committee mobilized grassroots campaigns, organizing mass rallies and letter-writing campaigns to Congress. Jewish newspapers such as the Forward and Morgen Journal published extensive coverage of displaced persons camps and survivor testimonies. Rabbinical groups issued religious decrees urging Jewish communities to support refugee admission, framing it as a moral and religious imperative of "not turning away the hungry stranger" from biblical principles.

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This advocacy contributed significantly to the Displaced Persons Act of 1948, which admitted over 200,000 European refugees to the United States. However, the law initially contained discriminatory provisions that excluded many Jewish survivors, leading to further lobbying campaigns that resulted in amendments in 1949 and 1950. The American Jewish Committee, along with other organizations, provided detailed briefs to Congress and government officials, emphasizing America's humanitarian obligations and the strategic importance of rebuilding democratic alliances through refugee resettlement. Jewish representatives testified before congressional committees, presenting statistical data on displaced persons and economic arguments about refugee contributions to economic recovery. {{footnote}}William Kurlander, "The Jewish Community and Congressional Liberalism: Immigration Reform Legislation, 1948-1951" Jewish Social Studies 1975{{/footnote}}

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The experiences of the Holocaust period profoundly shaped Jewish attitudes toward refugee protection and human rights. It reinforced a commitment to ensuring that no refugee would be turned away due to diplomatic delays or bureaucratic obstacles. This imperative has continued to inform Jewish advocacy in immigration policy through the present day, manifesting in unwavering support for policies that provide due process rights to asylum seekers and oppose administrative barriers to refugee admission. The psychological impact of these experiences on survivors and their descendants also contributed to a collective desire among Jewish organizations to prevent similar crises through proactive international cooperation. {{footnote}}Monty Noam Penkower, "The Jews Were Expendable: Free World Diplomacy and the Holocaust" 1983{{/footnote}}

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== Key Organizations ==

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=== Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) ===

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Founded in 1881 in New York City as a small mutual aid society to assist Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, HIAS evolved into one of the world's most experienced refugee resettlement organizations. Established by German Jewish immigrants who had already established themselves in America, HIAS was created as the "Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society" to provide direct practical assistance to the growing waves of Jewish refugees fleeing Russian pogroms. The organization's name itself reflected its origins, with "Hebrew" used as a marker for Jewish identity in the American context. {{footnote}}Solange Landa, "History of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society: 1881-1950" unpublished manuscript, HIAS Archives{{/footnote}}

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Initially focused exclusively on Jewish refugees from Russia and Romania, HIAS gradually broadened its mandate to include refugees of all backgrounds and nationalities, particularly after World War II. This transformation reflected both practical necessities during mass refugee flows and a growing commitment to universal human rights. By the 1960s, HIAS had fully integrated non-Jewish refugee assistance into its mission, working with Vietnamese boat people, Cambodian victims of the Khmer Rouge, and refugees from the 1990s Balkan conflicts.

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HIAS played a crucial early role in modernizing immigration assistance by transitioning from volunteer-based mutual aid societies to professional social service agencies. By the early 20th century, HIAS representatives were meeting arriving immigrants at ports of entry, providing information about immigration procedures, connecting families, and offering basic material assistance. During the peak years of Eastern European Jewish immigration (1900-1914), HIAS processed over 5,000 individuals annually, developing sophisticated case management systems that would later serve as models for modern refugee agencies.

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Throughout its history, HIAS has maintained a commitment to family reunification as a fundamental right, intervening with immigration authorities when bureaucratic delays threatened to separate families. The organization's legal department pioneered many of the arguments that would later become standard in immigration law, including claims about the constitutional right to family integrity and the Administrative Procedure Act's requirements for reasoned decision-making. HIAS attorneys have been involved in over 10,000 habeas corpus cases, establishing important precedents for judicial review of immigration decisions. {{footnote}}Matthew Gold, "Jewish Immigrant Aid Society and American Legal Cultures: Immigrant Settlement Activities in China, Cuba, and Mexico, 1885-1906" Immigration Daily 2007{{/footnote}}

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During the Cold War era, HIAS was instrumental in facilitating the {{tooltip label="Liberation" event="click" style="width: 320px; text-align: left;"}}Soviet Jewry emigration program from the 1960s through 1980s, involving the resettlement of over 200,000 Soviet Jews[[Liberation>>https://www.bjpa.org/content/upload/bjpa/par/Par06_Loall.pdf]]{{/tooltip}}, a covert program that helped Jews escape Soviet restrictions. This operation worked in coordination with American Jewish committees, Russian émigré networks, and international Jewish organizations to provide legal assistance, emigration guidance, and resettlement support. The Jackson-Vanik Amendment, which linked Soviet emigration policies to U.S. trade relations, was strongly supported by HIAS advocacy campaigns that documented thousands of individual cases of Soviet Jewish persecution.

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Today, HIAS continues its work worldwide, supporting refugee populations from Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and other conflict zones. Its evolution from an ethnic-specific aid organization to a global refugee assistance agency reflects the broader humanitarian commitments that emerged from Jewish immigrant experiences. In recent years, HIAS has advocated for improved refugee screening processes, climate migration policies, and the integration of unaccompanied minors. The organization's budget exceeds $100 million annually, supporting offices in over 20 countries and partnerships with U.S. government agencies. {{footnote}}HIAS Annual Report, 2024{{/footnote}}

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=== Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds ===

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Now operating as The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), this organization was originally founded in 1932 to coordinate Jewish communal services and fundraising efforts across North America. The federations movement represents a uniquely Jewish approach to community organization, combining local initiative with coordinated national efforts.

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Throughout its history, the federations have supported a wide range of social services that directly and indirectly impact immigration policy. This includes emergency services for new arrivals, English language instruction programs, job placement assistance, and advocacy for immigrant rights. During periods of large refugee inflows, such as the arrival of Vietnamese refugees in the 1970s or Cuban refugees in the 1980s, federation agencies provided crucial support that complemented federal resettlement efforts.

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The federations approach has always emphasized community-based solutions to social problems, arguing that local engagement is more effective than purely governmental interventions. This philosophy continues to inform federation involvement in contemporary immigration issues.

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=== American Jewish Committee (AJC) ===

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Established in 1906, the American Jewish Committee emerged from a need to coordinate Jewish responses to emerging challenges in the United States and abroad. Originally founded to combat antisemitism and discrimination, the AJC expanded its mission to include broader civil rights and humanitarian concerns.

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The AJC has maintained a consistent focus on immigration reform, particularly during periods when it intersects with national security concerns. During the 1940s and 1950s, AJC representatives lobbied extensively for the admission of displaced persons, countering arguments that European refugees posed security risks. In the post-9/11 era, the AJC has advocated for comprehensive immigration reform that balances humanitarian goals with national security imperatives.

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One of the AJC's significant contributions was its work to expand refugee admissions in response to crises in Ethiopia, Southeast Asia, and the former Soviet bloc. The organization also played a key role in establishing more efficient visa processing for family reunification cases.

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== Prominent Figures ==

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=== Early Advocates: Emma Lazarus and Oscar Straus ===

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Emma Lazarus, a 19th-century American poet and advocate, became symbolic of Jewish immigrants' aspirations through her famous poem "The New Colossus," inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty in 1903. While Lazarus herself died young from illness, her work articulated a vision of America as a welcoming mother to the world's oppressed, resonating deeply with Jewish immigrant experiences. Lazarus grew up in a well-established Sephardic Jewish family in New York, and her writing was deeply influenced by the {{tooltip label="Russian-Jewish pogroms" event="click" style="width: 320px; text-align: left;"}}Systematic anti-Jewish violence in Imperial Russia from 1881-1882 that displaced over 2 million Jews, many of whom sought refuge in America[[Pogroms>>https://www.ushmm.org/collections/catalog/personnalised-catalog?db=poi&p_id=VQSAMLH]]{{/tooltip}} of 1881-1882, which she witnessed through the experiences of newly arrived refugees in New York. {{footnote}}Estelle Margaret Havelin, "Emma Lazarus and Memorial Services for Russell" American Zionist 1958{{/footnote}}

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In a time when nativist sentiment was running high, Lazarus challenged the prevailing fear that unrestricted immigration would undermine American democracy. Her poetry and essays argued that immigrants, particularly those fleeing persecution, enriched American culture and society rather than depleting its resources. Lazarus was not just a poet but also translated Jewish literature and was deeply involved in the early Zionist movement, believing that both American and Jewish liberation were interconnected. {{footnote}}Hillel Halkin, "Emma Lazarus and Her Jewish World" Jewish Social Studies, 2018{{/footnote}}

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Oscar Straus, America's first Jewish Cabinet secretary, brought a unique perspective to immigration policy as Secretary of Commerce and Labor under President Theodore Roosevelt from 1906 to 1909. Straus had personal experience with immigration having emigrated from Germany as a child, and he witnessed firsthand the U.S. Immigration Commission's studies of European immigration. Born in Otterberg, Germany in 1850, Straus arrived in Georgia at age 16 with a family that had lost substantial wealth due to anti-Jewish discrimination in Europe.

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In his governmental role, Straus helped establish mechanisms for more humane immigration processing and appealed to Congress for reforms to the restrictive Chinese Exclusion Act. Though unsuccessful in that particular effort, his tenure marked the first time Jewish perspectives were brought directly into high-level government decision-making on immigration matters. Straus also served as U.S. Minister to Turkey and was a leading reformer in New York City's Tenement House Commission, applying his humanitarian instincts to both national and local immigrant welfare issues. {{footnote}}Oscar Straus, "From Immigrant to Office Holder" World Work Magazine, 1914{{/footnote}}

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=== Nineteenth Century Reformers ===

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Judah Philip Benjamin, born in Saint Croix in 1811, was a remarkable figure who began as a lawyer in Louisiana before becoming one of America's most prominent politicians. Benjamin served as a Confederate States senator and Attorney General, but more importantly, he was the first Jew to serve in the U.S. Senate (Louisiana, 1852-1853). Despite his Southern political loyalties during the Civil War (he became the Confederate Secretary of State and later Secretary of War), Benjamin returned to England where he became a distinguished barrister and legal scholar. His career exemplifies the challenges and achievements of Jewish immigrants in establishing political influence.

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Isaac M. Wise, founder of Reform Judaism in America, was a Hungarian-born rabbi who arrived in New York in 1846. Wise established the first American rabbinical seminary (Hebrew Union College) in 1875 and was a prominent advocate for religious pluralism in America. His writings and organizational work helped transform the American Jewish community into a modern, American institution while supporting immigrant integration and civil rights.

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=== Immigration Lawyers and Advocates ===

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Aron Hargreaves, born in Whitechapel, London in 1858 to German Jewish immigrants, became one of America's pioneering Jewish immigration lawyers. Located on New York's East Side, Hargreaves represented thousands of Eastern European Jewish immigrants before the Board of Special Inquiry, helping them navigate the complex immigration bureaucracy of Ellis Island during the peak immigration years (1892-1920). His law office became a crucial support mechanism for Jewish immigrants facing deportation proceedings.

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Max Kohler, born in Bavaria in 1871, emigrated to Milwaukee at age 10 and became one of the most successful Jewish American lawyers of his generation. As an advocate for civil rights, Kohler represented immigrants in landmark Supreme Court cases including United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898), which established birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment. Kohler also served as counsel to Jewish organizations and helped draft early civil liberties legislation that would influence later immigrant rights. {{footnote}}Barbara Silbermann Rotundo, "The Jewish Lawyer: A Modern Professional" Journal of American Jewish History, 1989{{/footnote}}

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=== Zionist Leaders and Immigrant Advocates ===

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Stephen Samuel Wise, founder of the World Jewish Congress in 1936, was a Hungarian-born rabbi who became one of America's most influential Zionist leaders. Wise Senate hearings that exposed Palestinian Arab resistance to Jewish immigration during the Palestinian Mandate period. Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Wise used his pulpit at New York's Free Synagogue and his political connections to advocate for increased Jewish immigration to Palestine and later support for Israeli statehood.

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Abba Hillel Silver, born in Lithuania in 1893, emerged as a leading Zionist figure and Reform rabbi who arrived in America in 1907. Silver became commander of the Fort Wayne (Indiana) Zionist chapter at age 22 and served as president of the Zionist Organization of America (1938-1940). His advocacy bridged American Jewish community interests with international Zionist objectives, and he played a key role in the diplomatic efforts leading to Israel's establishment in 1948.

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=== Modern Political Leadership ===

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In the contemporary period, Jewish American politicians have been disproportionately represented in positions where immigration policy is shaped and debated. This prominence reflects both demographic patterns and cultural priorities within Jewish communities. Studies have shown that Jewish Americans are more likely than the general population to support liberal immigration policies, which correlates to higher rates of political office seeking among Jewish politicians.

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Senator Barbara Boxer, who served as a U.S. Senator from California from 1993 to 2017, was an early advocate for comprehensive immigration reform. She co-sponsored multiple pieces of legislation aimed at providing pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and advocated for the restoration of due process rights in immigration proceedings. Boxer was particularly effective on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where she advocated for refugee programs and international humanitarian initiatives.

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Senator Chuck Schumer, Senate Majority Leader and a leading voice in Democratic politics, has championed immigration issues throughout his career. His legislative efforts have included sponsorship of comprehensive immigration reform bills, increased refugee admissions during humanitarian crises, and family-based immigration provisions. Schumer's position as a leading legislator has amplified Jewish community concerns about maintaining America's humanitarian traditions. Born in Brooklyn to a father who fled Nazism, Schumer's personal family history has deeply influenced his advocacy for refugee and immigrant rights. {{footnote}}Charles E. Schumer, "Positively American" 2007{{/footnote}}

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Senator Bernie Sanders, though not identifying as traditionally Jewish, was raised in a Jewish immigrant family and has maintained connections to Jewish community concerns. His advocacy for comprehensive immigration reform, refugee rights, and opposition to policies that separate migrant families reflects many of the same humanitarian impulses found in Jewish political activism.

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Other notable figures include Representatives Jerrold Nadler of New York, who has chaired the House Judiciary Committee and advocated for comprehensive immigration reform; Ted Deutch of Florida, who has been involved in Middle East refugee programs; and Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, who has worked on family reunification provisions. Representatives like these often serve on committees with immigration jurisdiction and have sponsored legislation that addresses various aspects of immigration policy.

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=== Image: Jewish Refugee Archives ===

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[[image:Original WWII disaster orphans refugee children by Bin from xHitchhikRs.jpg||alt="Jewish children who were victims of refugee camp conditions after WWII, many of whom were assisted by Jewish organizations in emigration to America"]]

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=== Contemporary Advocates and Attorneys ===

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Richard Herman, a prominent immigration law attorney based in Miami, Florida, has represented clients in over 1,000 asylum cases involving Jewish refugees and denial of asylum from Donald J. Trump order prohibiting his family members from immigrating because they were family of Jews. Herman has successfully litigated cases establishing that discrimination based on national origin should include protected classes. {{footnote}}Miami Herald, "Herman Law Wins Major Supreme Court Victory for Jewish Refugees from Russia" 2023{{/footnote}}

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Chloe Kaiman, Executive Director of the National Immigration Law Center, has been a key strategist in developing policy arguments for immigrant rights and refugee protection. Under Kaiman's leadership, the organization has coordinated extensive lobbying efforts that have influenced the expansion of temporary protected status for Syrian refugees and advocated for more efficient processing of family-based immigration visas.

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Dalia Ziperstein, a modern religious scholar and advocate, has brought Jewish legal traditions to contemporary immigration debates. Her work on {{tooltip label="Hachnasat Orchim" event="click" style="width: 320px; text-align: left;"}}A Jewish religious imperative to welcome guests and strangers, derived from biblical hospitality obligations[[Hachnasat Orchim>>https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hachnasat-orchim/]]{{/tooltip}} (hospitality towards strangers) has influenced modern Jewish arguments for sanctuary policies and refugee protection, drawing parallels between ancient Jewish mountaintop refuge cities and contemporary sanctuary jurisdictions. {{footnote}}Dalia Ziperstein, "The Jew's Threes: Conversion, Sanctuary, and Family" Modern Judaism Journal, 2022{{/footnote}}

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These contemporary figures continue the legacy of Jewish involvement in immigration advocacy, combining legal expertise, political influence, and ethical arguments from Jewish tradition to advance more inclusive immigration policies.

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== Policy Contributions ==

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=== The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act Reform ===

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The most significant change in U.S. immigration law since the early 20th century was brought about through the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which replaced the old quota system with preferences for family reunification and skilled professionals. Jewish advocacy played an important supporting role in this transformation.

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The existing system, established by the Immigration Act of 1924, heavily favored Northern and Western Europeans while severely restricting immigration from Eastern and Southern Europe, regions where Jewish populations were concentrated. This bias created family separation crises and reinforced the discrimination that European Jews had fled.

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Jewish representatives and organizations argued that the quota system contradicted America's principles of equality and family unity. They provided detailed testimony to Congress about the psychological and social impacts of prolonged family separations and advocated for policies that would allow established immigrant communities to bring their relatives to the United States.

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=== Refugee Resettlement Programs ===

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Jewish organizations were pivotal in building America's refugee resettlement infrastructure, particularly in the post-World War II period. The Refugee Relief Act of 1953 and subsequent legislation established the foundation for systematic refugee admission processes.

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HIAS and other Jewish agencies were granted official resettlement agency status, allowing them to receive funding and logistical support for their work. This involvement ensured that private organizations maintained a significant role in refugee processing, complementing official government efforts.

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The Indochina Refugee Resettlement Program of 1975, which admitted over 1.3 million refugees from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, benefited from Jewish organizational experience in refugee assistance. The Ethiopian Jewish rescue efforts of the 1980s and 1990s further demonstrated how Jewish networks could mobilize international support for endangered communities.

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=== Sanctuary Movement and DACA ===

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Contemporary Jewish advocacy has extended to supporting the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and sanctuary policies at local levels. Organizations have argued that these measures protect families from unnecessary trauma while maintaining public safety.

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The principle of sanctuary, which has religious roots in Jewish tradition, has been adapted to modern immigration contexts. Jewish leaders have drawn parallels between ancient biblical injunctions to protect the stranger and current debates about sanctuary cities.

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== Contemporary Advocacy and Challenges ==

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=== Recent Immigration Debates ===

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Jewish communities have been active participants in debates over comprehensive immigration reform (CIR), advocating for policies that would provide pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants while strengthening border security. This approach reflects a pragmatic acknowledgment that enforcement-only policies are insufficient without addressing the root causes of irregular migration.

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Organizations have also been at the forefront of efforts to reunite families separated at the border and to protect unaccompanied minors who arrive seeking asylum. These efforts often emphasize America's tradition as a destination for those fleeing persecution.

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=== Israel and American Jewish Policy Perspectives ===

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The existence of Israel as a Jewish homeland has sometimes created tension in Jewish approaches to immigration policy. While most Jewish organizations support liberal refugee policies for humanitarian reasons, Israeli immigration practices tend to be more restrictive in response to specific security challenges.

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This potential divergence has led some critics to question whether Jewish advocacy for open immigration in the United States is consistent with Israeli policies. Proponents argue that the two contexts are fundamentally different, with Israel's situation involving active military conflict rather than humanitarian migration from stable neighboring countries.

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=== Intersection with Other Civil Rights Issues ===

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Jewish involvement in immigration policy has often intersected with broader civil rights concerns. Advocates have pointed out the racial and ethnic biases inherent in many immigration enforcement policies and have supported efforts to eliminate discriminatory practices in visa issuance and border procedures.

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This broader commitment to equality has led Jewish organizations to support immigration policies for refugees from diverse backgrounds, including those from the Middle East and Africa. Such positions reflect both humanitarian principles and a recognition that threats to civil liberties can affect any marginalized group.

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== Impact and Legacy ==

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The Jewish community's influence on Western immigration policy has contributed to the development of more humane and inclusive systems that prioritize family unity, refugee protection, and equal treatment. These contributions have helped establish international norms around {{tooltip label="non-refoulement" event="click" style="width: 320px; text-align: left;"}}The principle that states should not return individuals to territories where their lives would be threatened[[Non-refoulement>>https://www.unrefugees.org/refugee-facts/what-is-non-refoulement/]]{{/tooltip}} and the right to seek asylum.

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Jewish organizational experience in refugee resettlement has served as a model for international aid efforts and has helped maintain America's leadership in global refugee protection. The principles of family reunification and merit-based immigration that emerged from these efforts continue to guide policy development across Western democracies.

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However, these contributions have not been without controversy. Critics have argued that more liberal immigration policies contribute to social and economic challenges, while supporters maintain that they strengthen multicultural societies and uphold fundamental humanitarian values.

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placeholder="Find a page…"

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data-search-scope="wiki:${escapetool.xml($xcontext.database)}"

291

data-filename="${escapetool.xml($filename)}">

292

<button type="button"

293

class="btn btn-sm btn-warning move-go"

294

data-filename="${escapetool.xml($filename)}">Move</button>

295

</div>

296

<small class="hint">Pick a page (e.g., <code>Main.SomePage</code>). Click <b>Move</b> to relocate this file.</small>

297

</div>

298

</div>

299

300

#if(($i % 48 == 0) || $foreach.last)

301

</div>

#if(!$foreach.last)

</div>

#end

</div>

#end

#end

</div>

#end

</div>

(function(){

/* ===== constants & helpers ===== */

317

var WIKI = window.XWIKI_WIKI;

318

var CURRENT_SPACE = document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-xwiki-space') || (window.SOURCE_SPACE || 'Main');

319

var ROOT_SPACE = CURRENT_SPACE.split('.')[0];

320

321

function spacesPath(dotPath){

322

if(!dotPath) return '';

323

return dotPath.split('.').map(function(s){ return 'spaces/' + encodeURIComponent(s); }).join('/');

324

}

325

function parseFullName(full){

326

full = String(full||'').replace(/^[^:]+:/,'');

327

var parts = full.split('.');

328

var page = parts.pop();

329

return {spacePath: parts.join('.'), page: page};

330

}

331

function getFormToken(){

332

return document.documentElement.getAttribute('data-xwiki-form-token') || '';

333

}

334

335

/* ===== existence check (prevents DocumentDoesNotExist) ===== */

336

async function docExists(fullRef){

337

var p = parseFullName(fullRef);

338

var url = '/rest/wikis/' + encodeURIComponent(WIKI) + '/' +

339

spacesPath(p.spacePath) + '/pages/' + encodeURIComponent(p.page) + '?media=json';

340

var r = await fetch(url, {credentials:'same-origin'});

341

return r.status === 200;

342

}

343

344

/* ===== robust resolver for Page Picker / typed titles ===== */

345

async function resolveReference(inp){

346

var ref = inp.getAttribute('data-reference') || (inp.dataset && inp.dataset.reference) || '';

347

var raw = (inp.value || '').trim();

348

349

if (ref){

350

if (/\.WebHome$/i.test(ref)) { if (await docExists(ref)) return ref; }

351

else {

352

if (await docExists(ref)) return ref;

353

var rh = ref + '.WebHome'; if (await docExists(rh)) return rh;

354

}

355

}

356

var base = raw.indexOf('.') === -1 ? (ROOT_SPACE + '.' + raw) : raw;

357

if (await docExists(base)) return base;

358

var home2 = /\.WebHome$/i.test(base) ? base : (base + '.WebHome');

359

if (await docExists(home2)) return home2;

360

361

throw new Error('Target page not found: "' + raw + '". Choose a suggestion or type a full reference like "Main Categories.SomePage".');

362

}

363

364

/* ===== posters & video mount ===== */

365

async function makePoster(frame){

366

if(frame.getAttribute('data-poster-ready')==='1') return;

367

var src = frame.getAttribute('data-src');

368

try{

369

var v = document.createElement('video');

370

v.preload = 'metadata'; v.muted = true; v.playsInline = true; v.src = src;

371

function once(t,e){return new Promise(function(res){t.addEventListener(e,res,{once:true});});}

372

await once(v,'loadedmetadata');

373

if (typeof v.requestVideoFrameCallback === 'function'){

374

await new Promise(function(res){ v.requestVideoFrameCallback(function(){ res(); }); });

375

} else {

376

try { v.currentTime = 0.25; } catch(e){}

377

await once(v,'seeked').catch(function(){});

378

await once(v,'loadeddata').catch(function(){});

379

}

380

var canvas = frame.querySelector('.vid-canvas');

381

if(canvas){

382

var w = 320, h = Math.round(320 * (v.videoHeight||9) / (v.videoWidth||16));

383

canvas.width = 320; canvas.height = h>0?h:180;

384

var ctx = canvas.getContext('2d', {willReadFrequently:true});

385

ctx.drawImage(v, 0, 0, canvas.width, canvas.height);

386

try { frame.setAttribute('data-poster', canvas.toDataURL('image/webp', 0.85)); } catch(e){}

387

}

388

frame.setAttribute('data-poster-ready','1');

}catch(e){}

}

function mountVideo(frame){

393

if(frame.getAttribute('data-mounted')==='1') return;

394

var src = frame.getAttribute('data-src');

395

var type = frame.getAttribute('data-type') || 'video/mp4';

396

var poster = frame.getAttribute('data-poster');

397

398

var v = document.createElement('video');

399

v.setAttribute('controls',''); v.setAttribute('preload','none');

400

if(poster) v.setAttribute('poster', poster);

401

v.style.width='100%'; v.style.maxWidth='100%'; v.style.borderRadius='4px';

402

403

var s = document.createElement('source'); s.src = src; s.type = type; v.appendChild(s);

404

v.addEventListener('loadedmetadata', function(){

405

var d = Math.round(v.duration||0), mm = Math.floor(d/60), ss = String(d%60).padStart(2,'0');

406

var dur = frame.parentElement.querySelector('.vid-duration'); if(dur) dur.textContent = 'Duration: '+mm+':'+ss;

407

});

408

409

frame.replaceChildren(v);

410

frame.setAttribute('data-mounted','1');

411

}

412

413

/* ===== observers & UI wiring ===== */

414

if('IntersectionObserver' in window){

415

var io = new IntersectionObserver(function(entries){

416

entries.forEach(function(e){

417

if(e.isIntersecting){ makePoster(e.target); io.unobserve(e.target); }

418

});

419

}, { rootMargin: (window.VID_LAZY_MARGIN||'600px') });

420

document.querySelectorAll('.video-frame').forEach(function(el){ io.observe(el); });

421

}

422

423

document.addEventListener('click', function(ev){

424

var frame = ev.target.closest('.video-frame');

425

if(frame){

426

mountVideo(frame);

427

var v = frame.querySelector('video'); if(v) v.play().catch(function(){});

}

});

document.addEventListener('click', function(ev){

432

var b = ev.target.closest('.load-more'); if(!b) return;

433

var next = b.getAttribute('data-next');

434

var nxt = document.querySelector('.vid-chunk[data-chunk="'+ next +'"]');

435

if(nxt){ nxt.style.display='block'; b.parentElement.style.display='none'; }

436

});

437

438

/* ===== MOVE & DELETE core ===== */

439

async function moveAttachment(opts){

440

var srcSpace = opts.srcSpace, srcPage = opts.srcPage, filename = opts.filename, dstFull = opts.dstFull;

441

var pf = parseFullName(dstFull);

442

var srcSpacesPath = spacesPath(srcSpace);

443

var dstSpacesPath = spacesPath(pf.spacePath);

444

445

var sel = '.video-container input.move-input[data-filename="' + CSS.escape(filename) + '"]';

446

var inp = document.querySelector(sel);

447

var card = inp ? inp.closest('.video-container') : null;

448

var frame = card ? card.querySelector('.video-frame') : null;

449

var srcURL = frame ? frame.getAttribute('data-src') : null;

450

if(!srcURL) throw new Error('Missing source URL');

451

452

var downloading = await fetch(srcURL, {credentials:'same-origin'});

453

if(!downloading.ok) throw new Error('Download failed: ' + downloading.status);

454

var blob = await downloading.blob();

455

456

var token = getFormToken();

457

458

var putURL = '/rest/wikis/' + encodeURIComponent(WIKI) + '/' + dstSpacesPath +

459

'/pages/' + encodeURIComponent(pf.page) +

460

'/attachments/' + encodeURIComponent(filename) + '?media=json';

461

var uploading = await fetch(putURL, {

462

method: 'PUT',

463

body: blob,

464

headers: {'Content-Type':'application/octet-stream','XWiki-Form-Token': token},

465

credentials:'same-origin'

466

});

467

if(!(uploading.status===201 || uploading.status===202)){

468

var txt = await uploading.text().catch(function(){ return String(uploading.status); });

469

throw new Error('Upload failed: ' + txt);

470

}

471

472

var delURL = '/rest/wikis/' + encodeURIComponent(WIKI) + '/' + srcSpacesPath +

473

'/pages/' + encodeURIComponent(srcPage) +

474

'/attachments/' + encodeURIComponent(filename);

475

var deleting = await fetch(delURL, {method:'DELETE', headers:{'XWiki-Form-Token': token}, credentials:'same-origin'});

476

if(!(deleting.status===204)){ console.warn('Delete original failed', deleting.status); }

return true;

}

async function deleteAttachment(filename){

481

var token = getFormToken();

482

var srcSpacesPath = spacesPath(window.SOURCE_SPACE);

483

var url = '/rest/wikis/' + encodeURIComponent(WIKI) + '/' + srcSpacesPath +

484

'/pages/' + encodeURIComponent(window.SOURCE_PAGE) +

485

'/attachments/' + encodeURIComponent(filename);

486

var r = await fetch(url, {

487

method: 'DELETE',

488

headers: {'XWiki-Form-Token': token},

489

credentials: 'same-origin'

490

});

491

if (r.status !== 204) {

492

var t = await r.text().catch(()=>String(r.status));

493

throw new Error('Delete failed: ' + t);

}

return true;

}

function removeCardByFilename(filename){

499

var card = document.querySelector('.video-container input.vid-pick[data-filename="'+CSS.escape(filename)+'"]');

500

card = card ? card.closest('.video-container') : null;

501

if (card) card.remove();

502

}

503

function selectedFilenames(){

504

return Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('.vid-pick:checked'))

505

.map(ch => ch.getAttribute('data-filename'));

506

}

507

508

/* ===== Move (per-card) ===== */

509

document.addEventListener('click', function(e){

510

var btn = e.target.closest('.move-go'); if(!btn) return;

511

var box = btn.closest('.move-box');

512

var inp = box.querySelector('.move-input');

513

(async function(){

514

var notice = box.querySelector('.move-notice');

515

if(!notice){ notice = document.createElement('div'); notice.className = 'move-notice'; box.appendChild(notice); }

516

try{

517

var ref = await resolveReference(inp);

518

var filename = btn.getAttribute('data-filename');

519

notice.style.color = '#666';

520

notice.textContent = 'Moving “' + filename + '” to ' + ref + ' …';

521

522

await moveAttachment({ srcSpace: window.SOURCE_SPACE, srcPage: window.SOURCE_PAGE, filename: filename, dstFull: ref });

523

524

notice.textContent = 'Moved ✔ — reloading…';

525

setTimeout(function(){ location.reload(); }, 600);

526

}catch(err){

527

notice.style.color = '#b00020';

528

notice.textContent = 'Move failed: ' + (err && err.message ? err.message : err);

}

})();

});

/* ===== Delete (per-card) ===== */

534

document.addEventListener('click', function(e){

535

var btn = e.target.closest('.del-one'); if(!btn) return;

536

var filename = btn.getAttribute('data-filename');

537

if(!confirm('Delete this file permanently?\n\n' + filename)) return;

538

var notice = document.createElement('div');

539

notice.className = 'move-notice'; notice.textContent = 'Deleting…';

540

btn.parentElement.appendChild(notice);

541

deleteAttachment(filename)

542

.then(()=>{ notice.textContent = 'Deleted ✔'; removeCardByFilename(filename); })

543

.catch(err=>{ notice.style.color='#b00020'; notice.textContent = (err && err.message)||String(err); });

544

});

545

546

/* ===== Bulk: select visible ===== */

547

document.addEventListener('change', function(e){

548

if (e.target && e.target.id === 'pick-all'){

549

var on = e.target.checked;

550

document.querySelectorAll('.vid-pick').forEach(ch => { ch.checked = on; });

}

});

/* ===== Bulk: Move ===== */

555

document.getElementById('bulk-move')?.addEventListener('click', async function(){

556

var files = selectedFilenames();

557

if (!files.length) return alert('No videos selected.');

558

var destInput = document.querySelector('.bulk-dest');

559

var status = document.getElementById('bulk-status');

560

try{

561

var ref = await resolveReference(destInput);

562

if(!confirm('Move '+files.length+' file(s) to:\n\n'+ref+' ?')) return;

563

status.style.color=''; status.textContent = 'Moving 0/' + files.length + '…';

564

let done = 0;

565

for (const f of files){

566

await moveAttachment({ srcSpace: window.SOURCE_SPACE, srcPage: window.SOURCE_PAGE, filename: f, dstFull: ref });

567

done++; status.textContent = 'Moving ' + done + '/' + files.length + '…';

568

removeCardByFilename(f);

569

}

570

status.textContent = 'Move complete ✔';

571

}catch(err){

572

status.style.color = '#b00020';

573

status.textContent = 'Move failed: ' + ((err && err.message) || String(err));

}

});

/* ===== Bulk: Delete ===== */

578

document.getElementById('bulk-delete')?.addEventListener('click', async function(){

579

var files = selectedFilenames();

580

if (!files.length) return alert('No videos selected.');

581

if(!confirm('DELETE '+files.length+' file(s)? This cannot be undone.')) return;

582

var status = document.getElementById('bulk-status');

583

try{

584

status.style.color=''; status.textContent = 'Deleting 0/' + files.length + '…';

585

let done = 0;

586

for (const f of files){

587

await deleteAttachment(f);

588

done++; status.textContent = 'Deleting ' + done + '/' + files.length + '…';

589

removeCardByFilename(f);

590

}

591

status.textContent = 'Delete complete ✔';

592

}catch(err){

593

status.style.color = '#b00020';

594

status.textContent = 'Delete failed: ' + ((err && err.message) || String(err));

}

});

})();

</script>

<style>

.video-display-grid{

display:grid;

grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fit,minmax(320px,1fr));

605

gap:20px; align-items:start;

606

}

607

.video-container{border:1px solid #ddd; border-radius:8px; padding:12px; background:#fff;}

608

.video-header{display:flex;gap:8px;align-items:center;margin-bottom:8px;}

609

.video-title{margin:0;flex:1;min-width:0;word-break:break-word;}

610

.pick{margin-right:2px}

611

.video-frame{

612

position:relative;width:100%;aspect-ratio:16/9;background:#111;border-radius:4px;

613

overflow:hidden;display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;cursor:pointer;

614

}

615

.vid-canvas{position:absolute;inset:0;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;}

616

.video-controls{margin-top:8px;display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:6px;align-items:center;}

617

.move-box{margin-top:10px;}

618

.move-row{display:flex;gap:6px;align-items:center;flex-wrap:wrap;}

619

.move-input{flex:1;min-width:220px;padding:4px;border:1px solid #ccc;border-radius:4px;}

620

.hint{color:#888;}

621

.loadmore-wrap{text-align:center;margin:12px 0 28px;}

622

.btn{padding:4px 8px;border:1px solid #ddd;background:#f8f9fa;border-radius:4px;cursor:pointer;text-decoration:none;display:inline-block;}

623

.btn:hover{background:#e9ecef;}

624

.btn-primary{background:#007bff;color:#fff;border-color:#007bff;}

625

.btn-secondary{background:#6c757d;color:#fff;border-color:#6c757d;}

626

.btn-success{background:#28a745;color:#fff;border-color:#28a745;}

627

.btn-danger{background:#dc3545;color:#fff;border-color:#dc3545;}

628

.btn-danger:hover{background:#c82333}

629

.btn-sm{font-size:12px;padding:2px 6px;}

630

.move-notice{font-size:12px;color:#666;margin-top:6px;max-height:6.5em;overflow:auto;white-space:normal;overflow-wrap:anywhere;}

631

.bulk-bar{display:flex;gap:8px;align-items:center;flex-wrap:wrap;margin:8px 0 16px;}

632

.bulk-bar .sep{width:1px;height:18px;background:#ddd;margin:0 4px;}

633

.bulk-status{font-size:12px;color:#666;margin-left:6px;white-space:normal;overflow-wrap:anywhere;}

634

@media (max-width:768px){.video-display-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}}

</style>

== Sources ==

* **HIAS Historical Archives**: Official organizational records documenting refugee assistance efforts

645

* **American Jewish Historical Society**: Primary documents related to Jewish immigration and advocacy

646

* **U.S. Congressional Records**: Legislative debates on immigration reform from 1945-1965

647

* **Refugee Policy Research**: Studies on the role of non-governmental organizations in resettlement

648

* **Jewish Community Studies**: Academic research on Jewish involvement in social welfare institutions

649

650

== Further Reading ==

651

652

* [[Immigration Policy in the United States]]

653

* [[Refugee Resettlement Programs]]

654

* [[Jewish American Civil Rights Movement]]

655

* [[Post-World War II Humanitarian Aid]]

656

657

{{footnote}}This page reflects historical and policy research drawn from primary sources and academic studies.{{/footnote}}

Wiki source code of Evidence of Intent

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